Army Commanders Relieved Over Vaccine Refusal
Battalion COs among the six soldiers removed from their jobs as service deadline passes.
By Elizabeth Howe
Assistant Editor, Defense One
December 16, 2021 10:59 AM ET
Just one day after its COVID-19 vaccination deadline, the Army has begun relieving soldiers who refused to get the vaccine. So far, six active-duty soldiers have been relieved, including two battalion commanders, Army officials said. Close to 3,000 more soldiers have received written reprimands.
The service’s Dec. 15 deadline to fully vaccinate its active-duty force against COVID-19 arrived later than the Air Force’s Nov. 2 date and the Navy’s Nov. 28 deadline. Still, the Army failed to achieve 100 percent vaccination.
A total of 461,209 soldiers, or 96 percent of the Army’s active-duty force, have received two doses of the vaccine while another 7,250 have received at least one dose. “Thousands” of exemption requests still need to be processed, but the 3,864 who have flat out refused are facing quick consequences.
The six active-duty soldiers already relieved are just the beginning.
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/12/army-commanders-relieved-over-vaccine-refusal/359880/
